These pages are designed to guide your passage through the teacher education program
at Western Carolina University. They outline the specific requirements students must
meet to be approved for entry into the teacher education program, student teaching
and certification. As you progress through our programs you will, from the first course
on, be working in classrooms with practicing teachers.

Admission

Students who plan to receive a degree or certification in education and a teaching
license through WCU must apply for and be officially admitted to a teacher education
program. The same criteria for admission apply to transfer students and four year
undergraduate students. Acceptance and registration in a department does not guarantee
admission to the teacher education program in that department.

Admission of applicants residing outside the State of North Carolina to an online
degree or certificate program or individual online course offered by Western Carolina
University is dependent on WCU’s ability to secure authorization from the applicant’s
state of residence, if such authorization is required. Individuals interested in applying
to a Western Carolina University online degree or certificate program or individual
course who do not reside in one of the states listed should not submit an application or application fee for admission to the University
until authorization is verified.

Career Opportunities Our future teachers can choose to specialize by many different age ranges or skills
as well as in many disciplines ranging from English and Art to Music and Science.
Our programs are fully accredited at the local, state, and national levels.

PortfolioThe Teacher Work Sample (TWS) provides a written record of the ways the candidate
plans instruction, teaches lessons, and learns from the teaching experience. The TWS
is completed during internship or student teaching and must be submitted via TaskStream.

Instructional Technology SupportOur college provides educational and research support through consultation, instruction
and equipment checkout (e.g., cameras, voice recorders) through the Instructional Technology Support.